After the ceremony we spent some time wandering through the Iveagh Gardens before heading back to the Shelbourne to celebrate. Amanda and Brian live in Chicago so there was an Irish American feel to the whole day including the music which had everyone up dancing. Thanks Amanda and Brian for asking me to be a part of your day!

And for even more photos, check out Amanda and Brian’s slideshow:

OK, hold on to your hats, lots of photos heading your way:

…and you can see the rest of Niamh and Tommy’s slideshow HERE.

There is an interview by Bernice Mulligan in the Irish Independent’s Mothers & Babies supplement today with me talking about taking family photographs. It’s not available online as of yet so you can read it here in case you missed it in the paper.

I sent in a selection of photos and the ones they’ve chosen are mostly of a shoot I did on Arklow Beach just a couple of weeks ago with the very photogenic Feeney family. The two little girls were so good and just adorable, plus the sun came out and we could have been somewhere far flung and exotic, not just down the road in Wicklow!

The funny thing is, I do say in the interview that I don’t recommend taking photos in harsh sunlight and this photoshoot took place under a totally clear blue sky and bright sun. Also, I say to avoid shooting with people’s backs to the light and I break that rule all the time, including with this shoot, I love backlighting. I stand by what I said though, it’s best to know the “rules” and then you can go ahead and break them. Personally I’m a little disappointed when conditions are supposedly “correct” for photography, ie overcast skies and even light. I prefer a bit of drama in my light. The idea is to get to the point where you’ve taken enough photos in different situations that you’re not afraid of trying things and making mistakes. Happy accidents can often become tried techniques.

Two little sisters that I had the pleasure of spending a morning with recently. First I spent a little time photographing the newest member of the family:

Then I was brought upstairs so I could be read a story and see big sister’s fairy princess bedroom:

There may have been some jumping on the bed…although I can’t confirm or deny it.

It’s rare I get such an enthusiastic sibling, Honey was delighted to pose with her baby brother. More over on newborn.

From yesterday, brand new baby brother to Oscar. More over on my newborn blog. Along with some of my new nephew Sam at just 1 day old )

The groom’s daughter and the bride’s nieces made up the bridal party and they were great fun, there was lots of laughs and gossip and buzz in the room while everyone got ready:

…and some fab shoes:

The bride rehearsed her vows to the girls and had everyone in tears including me behind the camera:

The ceremony was so simple and intimate and they incorporated traditions and readings that were very personal to them including the Jewish tradition of the breaking of the glass. A close friend of the bride and groom was ordained online just so she could officiate their wedding:

The ceremony was in the late afternoon and afterwards we had about 20 minutes to catch the sun before it set, with Central Park literally across the road we took a walk over there for a few photos:

While the guests mingled in the library I slipped in to the dining room to take some photos of the tables all laid out. I loved the books wrapped in ribbons and there were photos of their travels in Ireland on each table:

The library made me want to snuggle down in a big chair by the fire and read:

To the bride and groom: Thanks for letting me share these and thank you so much for inviting me to come over and capture your day. Your encouragement over the years has meant a lot and I can honestly say I wouldn’t be a photographer today if it wasn’t for a certain conversation down on Dublin’s Docklands about 3 years ago!

I was really tired by now and my card was getting full. I put my head down a bit and started to head for home clicking randomly as I walked.

There was so much more that I wanted to see, I’m definitely hooked now, I have to go back. But I was all clicked out and I still had a wedding to photograph!